Ball Arena sits at 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver’s Central Platte Valley. It is the home of the Nuggets, Avalanche and Colorado Mammoth, and one of the busiest concert stops in the Rocky Mountain region. Locals still call it Pepsi Center, its name from the October 1, 1999 opening until Ball Corporation bought the naming rights in October 2020.
The rules here catch a lot of first-timers. Only tiny bags get through the door, there is no re-entry once you’re inside, and tickets are digital only. This guide covers how many people the arena holds for each event type, the bag policy (the same one people search for as the Pepsi Center bag policy), parking lots and light rail, and how tickets work.
Quick Answer
Ball Arena holds 19,520 for basketball, about 17,809 for hockey and lacrosse, and 20,000+ for concerts, with a maximum of about 21,000 for special events, depending on the stage setup. Only clutches, wristlets and fanny packs of 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ or smaller are allowed. Backpacks and purses are not. The arena has a strict no re-entry policy, and tickets are delivered digitally only.
How Many People Does Ball Arena Hold?
Capacity depends on how the bowl is set up. Ball Arena lists these figures: about 19,520 for Denver Nuggets basketball, about 17,809 for Colorado Avalanche hockey and Colorado Mammoth lacrosse, and 20,000 or more for concerts. Special events can reach roughly 21,000. Older sources, including earlier versions of this page, quote 18,007 for hockey, which was the previous figure. The official number now is 17,809.
Denver concert capacity is a range because each tour builds its own layout. A full end-stage show with a general-admission or seated floor sits near the top of the range. Center-stage or in-the-round setups, and productions with big stage builds or blocked-off sightlines, usually seat fewer people. That’s why the same building can sell noticeably different totals for two tours in the same month.
The building has five levels on a 4.6-acre site, plus suites and club seating. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment owns and operates it, and it hosts roughly 250 events a year.
Seating Chart Tips for Concerts
Floor and lower-bowl sections closest to the stage sell first and cost the most. Upper-level sections behind the stage or at steep side angles are usually the cheapest. Side-view lower-bowl seats often give the best balance of sightline and price. For a full-stage production, the upper corners are the ones most likely to have a partly blocked view.
Ball Arena’s seating chart changes with each event configuration, so use the interactive map on the event page at Ticketmaster or on the official site rather than a generic chart. It shows which sections are actually on sale for your show.
Ball Arena Bag Policy (Formerly Pepsi Center Bag Policy)
Ball Arena, still widely searched as Pepsi Center, allows only small clutches, wristlets and fanny packs measuring 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ or smaller. Bags, purses, backpacks, briefcases, luggage and hard-sided containers like coolers are prohibited. A clutch even a half-inch over the limit can be turned away.
The exception is medical and diaper bags, up to 14″ x 14″ x 6″. They are allowed after inspection, enter through the VIP/ADA door (Door #1 at the Grand or East Atrium) and must stay with you all event. All bags, jackets and guests are subject to search.
Other items to leave at home:
- Cameras: personal point-and-shoot cameras are fine. Professional gear with telephoto lenses, external flash or tripods is not, and neither is video recording or live streaming.
- Water bottles: empty metal or plastic bottles of 32 oz or less are allowed at Nuggets, Avalanche and Mammoth games, but not at concerts or special events unless stated.
- GoPros and iPads: generally prohibited, except at the home team games listed above.
If you arrive with an oversized bag, Ball Arena’s bag policy page lists Binbox lockers in the Grand Atrium area. That page lists $15 per bag, non-refundable, card or mobile pay only, opening 30 minutes before doors. Other pages on the arena’s own site describe storage differently, so don’t count on it. Leave the bag at home or in your car, and check the bag policy page for your event. Bags stored in lockers can’t be reached during the event because of the no re-entry rule. Event-specific questions go to Guest Relations at 303-405-8548.
Ball Arena Parking
Ball Arena parking is run through Toyota-branded lots and garages, and prices vary by lot and event type. Lots open three hours before the event. Based on the arena’s parking page, typical ranges are:
- Toyota 4Runner and Elitch’s lots: about $35 to $45 for games, and about $35 to $40 for concerts at 4Runner.
- Toyota Tundra: about $40 to $55, and it is the one lot that takes cash only, with a $5 discount for paying by card.
- Toyota RAV4 (Premier): about $70 to $80 for games. It’s the closest lot.
- TRD-Pro valet: about $95 to $105 for concerts.
Prices “may change on event night based on demand”, so treat these as ballparks. ADA parking with a valid permit is first-come, first-served in the Camry North lot (110 spaces), the Tundra lot (12) and the RAV4 lot (3).
Driving directions: from the south, take I-25 North to exit 210B (Auraria Parkway) and turn left on 7th, 9th or 11th Street. From the north, take I-25 South to exit 212B toward downtown, turn left on Speer Boulevard, then right on Chopper Circle. Arrive early for playoff games and big tours, since the closest lots fill first.
Light Rail, Rideshare and Other Ways to Get There
The Ball Arena/Elitch Gardens light rail stop is served by the D, E, H and W lines, so you can skip parking entirely. An RTD bus stop sits at 9th Street and Auraria Parkway. Rideshare, taxi and limo drop-off is at the 4Runner West lot near 5th and Walnut Streets, and the 9th Street roundabout is used for ADA drop-off. Cyclists can use the Cherry Creek Trail, and there are bike racks at the East Atrium, Grand Atrium and 4Runner Lot South.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Box Office and Doors
Ball Arena has no in-person ticket sales. The Ticket Operations desk only operates during events, and tickets are delivered electronically to your phone (the arena points guests to the Altitude Presents app). Ticketmaster is the official ticket seller linked from the arena’s site. Buying from unofficial resellers carries the usual risk of invalid or duplicate tickets.
Doors typically open about an hour before the event, but it varies by show, so check your ticket. Prices follow the usual tiers: upper-level and far-side seats cost the least, floor and lower-bowl seats near the stage or court cost the most, and demand for tours or playoff games pushes prices up. Dynamic pricing means the number can change between visits, so look at the specific event listing rather than trusting a fixed figure.
For current event times, prices and policy updates, use the official Ball Arena website. It’s the canonical source, and its bag policy and parking pages are updated more often than any third-party guide.
From Pepsi Center to Ball Arena
The arena opened October 1, 1999, with a sold-out Celine Dion concert, and replaced McNichols Sports Arena as the home of the Nuggets and Avalanche. On October 22, 2020, the naming rights went to Broomfield-based Ball Corporation as part of a multi-year deal. The building, the address and the rules mostly carried over, which is why people still search for Pepsi Center parking and Pepsi Center bag policy. Since then the arena has hosted acts like Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, plus multi-night runs such as Billy Strings’ three sold-out shows in January 2025.
Ball Arena Denver FAQs
How many people does Ball Arena hold?
About 19,520 for basketball, about 17,809 for hockey and lacrosse, and 20,000+ for concerts. Special events can reach about 21,000. The exact number depends on the stage setup.
What is Ball Arena’s concert capacity?
Concerts typically seat 20,000 or more, up to about 21,000 for a full end-stage layout. Center-stage or in-the-round setups usually seat fewer.
What is the Pepsi Center bag policy?
Pepsi Center is now Ball Arena, and the same building follows the current policy. Only clutches, wristlets and fanny packs of 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ or smaller are allowed. Purses and backpacks are not, apart from medical and diaper bags up to 14″ x 14″ x 6″, which are inspected at the VIP/ADA door.
Can I bring a purse or backpack to Ball Arena?
No. Purses, backpacks, briefcases and luggage are prohibited. Only bags that fit the 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ limit, plus inspected medical and diaper bags, are allowed.
How much is parking at Ball Arena?
Roughly $35 to $55 for standard Toyota-branded lots, $70 to $80 for the closest RAV4 lot at games, and $95 to $105 for concert valet. Prices vary by event and demand, so check the official parking page. Lots open three hours before the event.
Is there re-entry at Ball Arena?
No. Ball Arena has a strict no re-entry policy, so once you leave you cannot come back in for that event.
Can you take the light rail to Ball Arena?
Yes. The Ball Arena/Elitch Gardens stop is served by the D, E, H and W lines.
Can I buy tickets at the Ball Arena box office?
No. There are no in-person ticket sales. Tickets are sold online through Ticketmaster and delivered digitally.
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